Activities the Village is Undertaking

20% Bio Diesel Fuel

All diesel vehicles or motors owned by the Village operate on 20% bio diesel fuel. This is a significantly higher percentage than required. In addition, several Village vehicles have catalytic mufflers or have been retrofitted with catalytic mufflers. All Village vehicles meet or exceed clean air standards. Newest vehicles are equipped with diesel emissions reduction factory equipment.

Generators for four of the eight pumping stations use natural gas and the older generators use 20% bio diesel. As the generators are replaced they will be upgraded to more environmentally friendly options.

Waste and Recycling

The Village contracts for individual residential collection with one waste hauler. This reduces the number of waste hauling trucks on Village streets and allows for coordination of services.

In 2004, the Village contracted for recycling toter service. This provides residential customers with a 65 gallon toter cart for recyclable materials. As a result, the community has less debris blowing out of containers and more recyclable materials are processed because of the convenience of the carts. The use of the toter carts has resulted in 33% increase in recyclables collected.

The Village publishes annually a waste hauler information packet and periodic articles in the Village Newsletter which promote the four Rs - reuse, reduce, recycle, and repurpose.

The Village recycles reusable materials including electronics, paint, light bulbs, paper, bottles, cans, plastics, etc.

Solid Waste Agency of Lake County

The Village is an active participant in the Solid Waste Agency of Lake County and its Legislative Committee. The Village provides staff for the Household Chemical Waste collection events, has held electronics collection events and supports the agency as an active participant.

Development Requirements

The Village requires developers to naturalize any detention facilities and encourages use of open naturalized drainage swales, extended buffers, protection of trees and natural areas and use of native plants. In addition, the Village utilizes a special zoning designation for residential developments that contain environmentally sensitive sites. This zoning allows the developer to construct smaller lots to shift development away from wetlands, floodplains, woodlands and other areas worthy of preservation. Following are examples of only a few of the many recent developments:

Meadows of Birch Lake Subdivision common areas are native and maintained by the Homeowner's Association (The Homeowner's Association was a recipient of a USEPA Conservation and Native Landscaping Award in 2006.) A fifty foot buffer along the eastern side of the property is dedicated to protect the Florsheim Illinois Nature Preserve. Drainage from the subdivision is filtered through a stormwater treatment train and much of the stormwater is filtered through open naturalized drainage swales.

Old Mill Woods Development: This is a 62 acre site with 27 homes and 32 acres of protected open space (dedicated as Illinois Nature Preserve). Drainage swales are open and naturalized. The detention basins are planted with native shrubs, plants and trees. The developer restored 32 acres of open space before turning it over to the Village.

Native Landscaping Specification

The Village has developed a native landscaping specification, maintenance plan and reporting system for homeowners and commercial areas that are planting native plants. The care and maintenance of a native landscape is very different from a manicured landscape. This specification provides step-by-step guidance for those who are tasked with maintaining a native landscape.

River and Stream Protection

The Village has a strong interest in protecting water quality in the region. As such, it is a member of, and has staff in leadership positions in, a variety of watershed protection groups locally and nationally:

• Upper Des Plaines River Ecosystem Partnership
• Lake County Watershed Management Board
• North Branch of the Chicago River Watershed Ecosystem Partnership
• Indian Creek Stakeholders
• Community Rating System Program (Class 5 Rating)
• Lake County Stormwater Management Municipal Advisors Committee

Approximately 11,200 linear feet of restoration and stabilization has taken place along Spring Lake, the Des Plaines River, the North Branch of the Chicago River and Lincolnshire Creek in the past few years.

Indian Creek Restoration

The Village has developed a downtown area that borders Indian Creek, a tributary to the Des Plaines River. This project was completed in October 2009. Included in the construction was the restoration and protection of Indian Creek. This project includes removal of invasive species, resloping banks along the river, planting of deep rooted native plants to protect against erosion and filter out pollutants from the intense surrounding use. The detention and much of its drainage system have been naturalized. In addition an informational brochure has been published to explain the issues of the watershed.

Stormwater Filtration

The Village has bioengineered and restored a large inlet adjacent to an outfall structure which opens to the Des Plaines River. Included in this work were the installation of native plants, a riffle, structural components to hold soil and water quality testing. The Village contracts with the Lake County Health Department to test the water quality. As the site becomes more established water quality testing will continue to verify site conditions and improvements.

Water Quality Testing

The Village contracts for water quality testing to track chemicals and pollutants which may be entering the Chicago and Des Plaines Rivers at North Park, Spring Lake and the Spring Lake stormwater outfall.

Watering Restrictions

The Village voluntarily imposes watering restrictions during the summer months to conserve water by limiting outside irrigation throughout the Village.

Community Rating System

The CRS program is voluntary and is centered on flood reduction and water quality protection. The Village has provided education to residents on the significance of the floodplain, reducing stormwater and erosion, protecting water quality and improving habitat in its watersheds. There are only thirty-seven (37) communities nationwide which have achieved a Class 5 or better.

Protection of Open Space

The Village has acquired approximately 110 acres of open space along the North Branch of the Chicago River in the past few years. This property has been protected, enhanced and restored to its native function. The property has been dedicated as Illinois Nature Preserves and is actively managed to encourage biological diversity. Not only does this property function for native habitat but it is the headwaters to the North Branch of the Chicago River. Water quality has been a significant focus and surrounding development has been controlled to protect the water quality. The property's location along the Illinois Tollway, and its management to preserve, protect and enhance the woodland forest provides for improved air quality.

The Village hosts two locations for the annual Chicago River Day which involves volunteer clean-up along the river channel.

Open Space Management Plan

The Village has developed an Open Space Management Plan and encourages participation of staff in maintenance and care of environmental issues. Included in this plan is the use of environmentally friendly products, i.e. time release fertilizers, etc. and the goal to continually look for ways to reduce the amount of chemicals in our public spaces. To support the protection of our natural resources, the Village has adopted the Chicago Wilderness Biodiversity Recovery Plan, the North Branch of the Chicago River Watershed Plan, and the Indian Creek Watershed Plan.

Environmental Education

The Village regularly publishes articles in the Village Newsletter and provides special mailings educating its residents on environmental issues. This would include the importance of native plants, use of rain gardens, reduce, reuse and recycle, the watershed and water quality, etc.

A brochure has been produced and interpretive signs installed along the Village waterways explaining the significance of the residential and commercial impacts to the watershed, drainage, water quality, erosion, native habitat, etc.

The Village also partners with the local school district in providing an environmental education program for the 1,600 children in the district. Children are bussed to Village maintained open space and the Rivershire Park Nature Center where school staff provide curriculum for hands on opportunities to study water quality, native plants, ecosystems, erosion, root systems of native plants, etc. As an example, the fifth grade students act as consultants for the Village. They take water samples, evaluate the physical traits of the North Branch of the Chicago River, and study the characteristics of a healthy aquatic habitat. They then present their results and recommendations in a formal presentation to the Village. In addition, the school children paint stormsewer grates stating "Water Goes To River."

Trees

The Village of Lincolnshire has one of the most restrictive tree removal policies in the region. All removals over six inches in diameter have to be permitted by the Village. No removal permit will be issued for healthy trees unless there is an approved building permit. As a deterrent, land owners who wish to remove trees over six inches in diameter, which are part of a building permit, are required to pay $150 per diameter inch unless the tree is a high quality tree (as listed in the Village Code) and then they must pay $200 per diameter inch for removal. Money paid goes to the tree bank where it is used to plant trees throughout the Village.

In addition, approximately $30,000 per year is set aside for tree planting and more than 700 trees are pruned annually. The Village has been a recipient of the Tree City Award for nineteen years and the Growth Award for sixteen years.

Adopt a Tree Program

The Village has instituted a new program where residents can adopt trees. The Village will purchase and install trees on residential property. As a condition of this adoption, the resident will be required to complete an adoption application and commit to specific maintenance requirements regarding the watering, trimming and care for the trees they have adopted. The Village conducts annual inspections and issues citations if trees are not being cared for.

Tree Planting to Address Attrition

In recognition of the continuing problems with Dutch Elm Disease, Gypsy Moth and Emerald Ash Borer, the Village has set aside money to plant a wider variety of trees throughout the Village in anticipation of attrition. In addition, the Village has expanded its tree planting list to include trees which are adaptable or appropriate to the changing climate.

Lighting

The Village has converted interior lighting to compact fluorescent light bulbs. The Village is pursuing other means for lighting its streets and intersections but currently has replaced incandescent bulbs with fluorescent bulbs in Village structures. At the North Park Sports Facility (25 acres) - lighting is carefully controlled to light only the portion(s) of the park that is being used and all lights at this facility are computerized to go on and off for a specifically scheduled event or activity.

Maintenance of Village Streets

The Village has a street sweeping policy which requires that the Village streets be swept at least monthly beginning in March through the end of September. In October the streets are swept weekly until the first week of December as part of the Villages municipal maintenance program. In addition to streets, stormwater structures and catch basins are inspected seasonally and any foreign material removed or vactored.

Road Salts

The Village has been successful in reducing the amount of salt on Village streets with the incorporation of agricultural byproducts. Road salt is limited or excluded from areas in the Village which are adjacent to natural areas and waterways such as Florsheim Nature Preserve and Rivershire Park.

Leaf Program

The Village conducts a fall leaf collection program. The Village collects the residential leaves and composts them. The Village prohibits the burning of leaves to protect our air quality.

Corridor Enhancement

The Village has developed a Corridor Enhancement Plan. This plan will improve the corridors throughout the Village. Included in the design are plans for naturalized swales adjacent to the roadways. These swales will be planted with a variety of native flowers and grasses to improve the visual appeal along the roadway but to also absorb pollutants running off of the roadway into the stormwater system. Another component of this design is the removal of buckthorn in Village owned rights of way and the planting of native shrubs and trees to improve the biological diversity and air quality along our roadways.

Sanitary Sewer System Monitoring

The Village is in a multi-year program to televise and inspect the sanitary sewer system. Problem areas are being corrected and there is a reduction of inflow and infiltration of stormwater into the system. This has resulted in reduced energy usage at the pumping stations and greater capacity for the sanitary sewer mains.

Geographic Information System

The Village has developed a Geographic Information System which staff utilizes to identify woodlands, wetlands, floodplains and other environmentally sensitive lands. This information is used as a development and management tool. The GIS Consortium conducts many of its meeting via telephone and internet, thereby reducing the need to travel saving time and energy.

Pedestrian and Bicycle Path Systems

The Village has been actively expanding its pedestrian and bicycle path system. These paths tie into regional path systems as well as connecting residential neighborhoods.

Environmental Information

The Village is now publishing an environmental column on its website. This column covers a wide variety of topics and is tied to the seasons for resident attention. In addition, the Village website includes a section on the environment. This section provides suggestions on everyday living, tips and resources for residents.

Smoking Ban

In 2006, prior to the enactment of a state law, the Village of Lincolnshire enacted a smoking ban in any public building and all commercial establishments.

Clean Air Counts

The Village joined this effort in 2007 and is already working to complete silver classification in this program.

Metropolitan Mayors Caucus Green Initiative

The Village has passed the resolution and is working to improve environmental conditions in the Village.

Meet the Challenge

Annually, the Village sponsors an environmental challenge for the residents of the community. The Challenge, requires that residents select three areas where they can reduce their impact on the environment. Each family member who participates will sign a contract with the Village to complete their commitment.